BLUE BUNTING could bid for a third Classic success in the Ladbrokes St Leger next month following another battling victory in in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York yesterday.
The Godolphin filly is a gutsy and talented individual, having already landed the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Darley Irish Oaks. And yesterday she added the Yorkshire Oaks of her haul when battling to a three-quarter of a length victory over Vita Nova on the Knavesmire.
She is now a best-priced 7-1 second favourite with Blue Square for next month’s Classic behind Wednesday’s impressive Great Voltigeur winner Sea Moon, who is 6-4 with the sponsors.
Victory on Town Moor would bring up a Triple Crown of sorts. But Godolphin supremo Sheikh Mohammed will have the final say whether if she lines up at Doncaster on September 10.
Simon Crisford, racing manager for the Godolphin team, thinks there is a good chance she will bid for more Classic glory.
He said: “She’s such a tough filly - so resolute - and when the second came to her, Blue Bunting wasn’t having any of it.
“She’s really brave and honest. She’s a fantastic filly to have won a Guineas, an Irish Oaks and a Yorkshire Oaks on different types of ground.
“I’ve just talked to his Highness Sheikh Mohammed and he said, ’Let’s keep all the options open’.
“We’ll see how she is over the next week or so and then make a decision.
“It’s not definite that she will run in the St Leger, but it is quite possible. At this stage, we do not have any better candidates and she’d have a great chance of winning if she went there. I would definitely say she’d stay the trip. She wasn’t stopping today and the further she went the better she was, so I’m sure a mile and six wouldn’t be any trouble to her at all.
“She’s a true star.”
It was another terrific achievement for Godolphin’s new trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni, while Dettori added: “She was in season today, so her mind wasn’t exactly on the job – she made it really hard work for me.
“She was just idling a little towards the end. It was a good battle with Tom but she just won the Guineas by a neck and won the Irish Oaks by a short-head so I knew if it was a dog fight that she would prevail.
“The Leger was suggested before the race and I am sure it will be discussed, but that’s up to Sheikh Mohammed. She would certainly stay – they could have gone for another mile and Vita Nova wouldn’t have got past.”
